Heatherington dishes out record 18 assists in 102-87 win over Penn State-Fayette

WEST MIFFLIN -- With four starters in double figures and three above 20 points, it was a player with only four points who stole the show. Senior point guard Robbie Heatherington dished out a school-record 18 assists in Point Park University's 102-87 home win over Penn State-Fayette in a non-conference men's basketball game at CCAC-South Gym on Tuesday night.

Heatherington, a senior from Serra Catholic High School, bested the previous school record for assists in a single game of 17 set by Damon Wade versus St. Vincent on Jan. 15, 1996. Heatherington had 11 assists by halftime when the Pioneers (5-3, 1-0 KIAC) were ahead, 57-36, after shooting 61-percent (25 of 41) from the field the first half.

Heatherington got the record-setting assist when teammate Brandon Camic hit a baseline jumper for a 96-65 lead with 5:06 left. That basket gave the Pioneers their biggest lead of the night of 31 points. With plenty of time still on the clock to potentially add on to the record, Heatherington and some other starters came out of the game, and he received congrats from the crowd.

With Heatherington dishing to his teammates for great looks all night, the Pioneers had plenty of high scorers. Senior forward Nick Brown had 29 points, 11 rebounds and four assists on 13 of 23 from the floor. Sophomore Matt Noszka added 22 points and nine rebounds on 7 of 13 shooting.

A third starter over 20 points was senior guard Gabe McNeal with 21 points and nine rebounds. Junior forward Alan Heter added 14 points, and he made 7 of 9 field goals.

Point Park shot 53 percent and dominated the rebounds, 58-27. Penn State-Fayette managed to get the final margin down to 15 points, although it was a 30 point game with less than five minutes to go.

The Roaring Lions (1-4) made 17 3-pointers but had to take 45 attempts from long range to get that many for 38 percent accuracy. Penn State-Fayette made three 3-pointers in the final 1:14 to make the final score closer.

C.J. Gaddies had 23 points and was 6 of 11 from long range for Penn State-Fayette. Luke Williams added 22 points.

The Roaring Lions stayed with Point Park the first five minutes and led, 15-13, at the 14:50 mark of the first half. Point Park later worked a 26-20 before it really began to take control. A 17-0 run by the Pioneers made the score 43-20 with 6:35 left in the half. A two-handed dunk by senior Josh Pohlot for two of his six points capped the spurt as the Pioneers had full control.

After leading by 21 at the half, Point Park stayed ahead by at least 20 points and a few times more than 30 points until the final minute of the game.

Point Park has now won four of its last five games. The Pioneers have two more games this week before taking a break for Thanksgiving. Point Park plays Centre (Ky.) on Friday at Otterbein before visiting IU Kokomo on Saturday for its first KIAC road game.